Men's Soccer: Late Goals Drop Mountaineers

By Grant Dovey for WVUsports.com
October 19, 2010 09:51 PM

Peabo Doue

STORRS, Conn. – The No. 5 Connecticut men’s soccer team used two late second-half goals to defeat the West Virginia men’s soccer team, 2-0, Tuesday evening at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium.

In the 75th minute, UConn’s Carlos Alvarez gathered the ball along the far left wing and took a shot from the top of the box that bent over the out-stretched arms of WVU senior goalkeeper Zach Johnson for a 1-0 lead.

Stephane Diop added an insurance goal in the 84th minute off a pass from Tony Cascio. Diop received the pass and was able to deflect the ball with his right foot, around his left leg and into the net.

Despite the loss, West Virginia had the better play in the first half with sophomore Peabo Doue starting the West Virginia attack only 16 seconds into the match. Doue ripped a shot that was deflected out of bounds by Connecticut keeper Josh Ford.

“We played pretty well for most of the game, but they upped their energy level and upped their fight and that was a turning point for us,” said coach Marlon LeBlanc.

“We did push the pace in their zone defensively in the second half, and the first half was even more of an onslaught. Ford made three or four big saves, and he we hit a crossbar. We just didn’t convert.”

In the third minute junior Franck Tayou was able to work the ball down the field, earning a corner kick. Sophomore Travis Pittman took the corner and junior Ruben Garrido blasted a ball from 30 yards out that sailed high over the net.

Pittman took another corner kick in the 27th minute that sophomore Eric Schoenle headed towards the near post. Ford once again made a diving save across the goal line, making a punch save at the post.

West Virginia’s best chance of the game came in the 31st minute when sophomore Shadow Sebele stole the ball from a Huskie defender and fed the ball to Doue streaking up the left side. Duoe’s one-on-one opportunity was denied as Ford came off his line to make a heal save on the low shot.

“I thought in the first half we did everything but score,” said Leblanc. “We had opportunities galore, but their goalkeeper stood on his head. We had chances in the first half to put the game away.”

Schoenle had another opportunity in the 36th minute when he took a free kick from roughly 50 yards out that Ford was able to jump and snatch out of the air, just beneath the crossbar.

Johnson made his best save in the 47th minute when Mamadou Diouf received a cross and made a diving header that Johnson was able to save point blank.

West Virginia’s first opportunity in the second half came in the 64th minute when Doue had another shot that was deflected by a UConn defender and deflected off the crossbar.

The Huskies held the shot advantage, 17-14, while the Mountaineers won the corner kick battle, 10-5.

“At the end of the day, the only thing people are going to remember is the result,” added LeBlanc. “We have to find a way to be the better team and get the result. There is no solace in hearing people say you were the better team.”

West Virginia returns to action against Seton Hall on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

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